ISSA Oceania & Asia-Pacific has launched ISSA Consulting, a new service helping contractors, facility managers, asset owners and government improve efficiency, consistency and service delivery across the cleaning and facilities sector.
The sector is under growing pressure to do more with less. Budget constraints, workforce challenges, compliance requirements and rising expectations around transparency mean organisations need clearer, more structured approaches to workforce planning, workloading, tendering and performance measurement.
ISSA Consulting aims to address these challenges by providing practical, operationally focused support for contractors, facility managers, asset owners and government.
The service leverages peer-reviewed methodologies, recognised industry standards, and data-driven analysis to optimise cleaning operations and support better decision-making across the supply chain.
ISSA Oceania manager Lauren Micallef notes, “The expectations placed on our industry continue to evolve. ISSA Consulting represents an important step in supporting that evolution, helping build industry knowledge and practical implementation, and strengthening capability across the entire cleaning and facilities supply chain.”
According to ISSA account manager Alicia Morgan, the launch also reflects a broader focus on delivering greater value to members.
“ISSA Consulting is a natural extension of our membership offering. Our members are already engaging with ISSA through education, standards and industry insights, but they’re increasingly looking for more hands-on, practical support to apply that knowledge in real-world operations.
“This service allows us to deepen that value, supporting members not just with resources, but with tailored, data-driven guidance that improves performance, strengthens service delivery and ultimately helps them compete more effectively in a rapidly evolving market.”
Industry expertise driving outcomes
Leading the rollout is Derek Oliveira, ISSA Global Consulting Manager, who brings nearly 30 years of industry experience across the cleaning sector. Known for his focus on quality, efficiency and practical problem-solving, Oliveira has progressed from frontline operational roles through to senior leadership positions. Along the way, he has partnered with several international organisations.
He is currently working with Australian clients across the full-service supply chain from government and asset owners through to building service contractors. As Oliveira says, “We’ve spent years on the ground understanding how cleaning operations really work. ISSA Consulting is about cutting through the noise – helping businesses streamline processes, improve efficiency and get measurable results from the resources they already have.”
A structured approach to performance improvement
ISSA Consulting takes a structured, practical approach to performance improvement, delivering tailored support to organisations at different stages of operational maturity. Rather than a one-size-fits-all model, the service is designed to identify where each organisation sits and apply targeted strategies to strengthen performance, efficiency and service delivery outcomes.
The process typically begins with discovery assessments, which provide a clear view of existing operations by identifying gaps, inefficiencies and opportunities across staffing, processes and performance. From there, workloading and estimating models are used to align staffing levels, budgets and service expectations, drawing on proven industry benchmarks to ensure a more consistent and commercially viable approach.
Beyond initial analysis, ISSA Consulting provides hands-on operational support to refine processes, strengthen quality assurance frameworks and improve day-to-day service delivery. This is complemented by broader business advisory, offering strategic insights and benchmarking to help organisations track performance and identify opportunities for continual improvement.
For organisations looking to formalise and validate their processes, CIMS coaching and preparation is also available, supporting certification readiness while embedding a culture of ongoing improvement and accountability across operations.
Supporting a changing industry landscape
The expansion into consulting reflects broader shifts within the cleaning and hygiene sector, where rising expectations around transparency, compliance and performance are reshaping how services are delivered and measured.
With cleaning increasingly recognised as a critical service tied to health, safety and asset performance, organisations are under pressure to demonstrate value as well as competitive cost.
ISSA’s move into consulting positions the Association to play a more active role in supporting industry capability, bridging the gap between standards and real-world application.
The focus is to enable organisations to deliver consistent, high-quality outcomes, strengthen team performance, and build more resilient, scalable operations.
Is your cleaning business or facility operating at peak efficiency? Take our self-assessment quiz to uncover strengths and pinpoint areas for improvement: www.issa.com/oceania/education-certification/global-consulting
